Hand truck and ladder



G, 'w. BURG ErAL HAND TRUCK AND LADDER Filed July 1G. 1956 INVENTORS eWBuI- g- Rober WLedger wood m7' .4 M221 D Hi' g5.

Georg- United States Patent O HAND TRUCK AND LADDER GeorgeW. Burg andRobert W. Ledgerwood-Portland, Oreg., assignprs to Rol-Away 'IfrulrManufacturing Company, Inc., Portland, Gregg., a corporation of OregonApplication July-16, 1956, Serial-No.4598g103 9-Claims. (Cl. 228-16)This invention relates to aV novel stepladderassembly and moreparticularly to a stock transfer truck having` a collapsible stepladderretractably carried thereby to assist in the loading and unloading ofthestock transfer truck.

StockV ,transfertrucks presently iind- Wide acceptance by concerns whichhandle, store, andtransfer vlarge volumes of such items as packagedgoods, foods, replacement parts, and the-like. Items of this nature arequite generally stored in a stockroorn which has high, ceiling to floorshelves distributed throughout the stockroom along the walls of the roomand frequentlyalong isles laid out along the area bounded by the walls.Conventionally, the stock transfer truck is employed to assist in thetransfer of goods to and from the various shelves, the transfer truckenabling the more expeditious vtransport of goods from one point toanother,

Stock transfer trucks, by reason of the high shelves found in-astockroom of the typedescribed, are sometimes equipped with built-inladder devices which are transported with the stock transfer truck so asto-be-ready-for use when the occasion demands. ladder with the transfertruck, it becomes no longer necessary to distributemany ladderslthroughoutthei stockroom or separately transport aladder whenever itA isneeded. V-

ln view of the conditionsV whichv areV normally found inI a stock room,a well designedstock transfer truck and ladder assembly should beconstructedso as to meeta number of requirements. For instance, topermit easy set up of the ladder without thev need of manual aid tomaintain` proper balance, the ladder-s step elements should lie ontaplane sutliciently inclined from theV verticaltopermit a person usingthe ladder properly to balance himself usinghis feet only. Inadditionvto thisrequirement, structure should be provided which willVserve to anchor the truck and` ladder from inadvertent movement Whiletheladder is in use. Also because of the crowded conditions normallyfound in storerooms, it is mandatory that the ladder assembly consume aslittle space as possible so as to permitA maximum maneuverability of thetruck.

Transfer truck and ladder assemblies have been proposed; however, to ourknowledge the constructions heretoforersuggestedhave not been whollysatisfactory. The majorityof-'transfer trucks which have been proposedhave been equipped with laddersof substantially rigid construction, withthe step elements of the ladder arranged on an inclined plane eitherwith the upper portion of the ladder extending inwardly over a portionof the cart itself, or witnthc entire assembly protruding outwardly fromone end of .the cart. Theforrner design has resultedv inl decreasedavailable` space on the cart andy increased difficulties inloading: andunloading theA truck, whereas the latter-has been cumbersome and hard tomanipulate.

To obviate the aforementioned difculties, this inven- By the inclusionofa` tion contemplates the incorporation with a stock transfer truck of acollapsible stepladder assembly which has n- 2,827,215l Patented Mar.18, 1:958

vCC f cor-porated therein a novel arrangement which unfolds thestepladder to Vpermit easy use of the ladder when the st epladder ispositioned on the ground, and which collapsesv the ladder and positivelyholds the ladder in this state whcneverthe ladder is not inA use andpositioned to ride clear of the ground. Further, additional means areprovided so that theladder will unfold and assume an operatiyeposit-ion; under the weight of an ordinary person-, and; immediatelyreturnto a riding and collapsed condition wherein; theladder is foldedand held against the @side of a cart when subsequently released.

Generally, therefore,4 it; is an object of this invention to provideincornbinationwith a stock transfer truck, a Collapsiblsstepladder mountedfor` reciprocaticn Vbetween ariding, position,whereinY theladder isclear of the ground, andan-` anchored position wherein the laddercontacts.- the ground, and which is collapsed andv positively heldinafolded. position; by means disposed between the truck andtneladderwhenever the ladder is raised from they anchored, totheI ridingposition.

Another-object ofthis inyention is to provide a stock transfer truckandcollapsible ladder assembly which includes abiasing-arrangementnormally urging the stepladder to a` riding positionV where the ladderclears the groundbrnovement to this riding position automaticallyfolding the -ladder-v so that it will lie compactly against the stocktransfer` truck.

Anotherobjectofthis invention is to-provide a collapsiblestepladder-for; use with an adjoining structure such as a stocktransfer-truck which will support; itselfindependently whenI opened foruse, and whichl will automaticallyfold together and be carried by theadjoining structure; when the ladderis released and not in-.uset Stillanotherobject o f this-invention is to provide afastening meansfor suchvaA collapsible ladder disposed between the support structure andtheladder-for--loelcingvthe ladder inits extended and opened. position.

These and other-,objects andi advantages are attained lby thel presentinvention, various-novel features of. which are` more fully disclosed inthefollowingdescription and illustrated. in the accompanying drawings,wherein;

Fig. l isa side view ofone form-y of the transfer truck and ladder ofthis inyention, showingY the ladder folded againstv the transfertruck ina raised4 riding position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the transfer truck andladder shown in. Fig. l,showingthe ladder unfolded and in an opened, extended position; andvFig. 3isan1end-view of the transfer truck and ladder with theladderin-the position it occupies in- Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, generally indicated at 10;,is thebody of aconventional stockv transfertr-uck comprised offour opstanding frame. orchassis members 11 disposed at the corners of' body 1l) and forming the,peripheral outline of body lll. Lying horizontally betweenthe Vframe.members 1-1 are shelves 7', 8y and 9, which are suitably secured as bywelding toy frame membersV 1-1.-

The body lll, of the transfer truck is mounted upon a pair. offrontvwheels 12 and a. pair of rear wheels. 13 so as tov provide wheelJsupport for body, 1l); Wheels 12 and 131are prefer-,ably caster wheelsmounted to swivel beneath body-luso that thetransfer truck hasarmaxirnum degree of .maneunerability At one, endl of body 1,0. andmountedv on the upright portion presented by, frame members 11V is aladder` assembly generally indicated at 14. This ladder assemblycomprises.- an inner ladder, Support 16 mounted, as describedhereinbelow for reciprocationL betweenL an an- ChoralVV position.wherein the innerladder supporti GQ41- tests the 'ef-Oiled, and. ariding position whereinhe 99- pnrt is raised upwardly Clear 0f theground, ,Plv- 01rd tol this: innerdadder.supportA at. airuppei'` par;thereof; :is

an outer ladder support 'generally' indicated at 17. Outer that the freeend of the outer ladder support is free to move toward and away Vfromthe body portion of the truck to the positions generally shown in Figs.1 and 2.

More specifically, the inner ladder support generally includes a pair ofladderuprights l18 and l19 having YU- shaped upper end portions 21 and22. Each ladder upright is slidably mounted in spaced guide members 23secured to the side of the transfer truck by suitable means, as byscrews 24. Y

Encircling the lower portion ofY each ladder upright is a compressionspring 26. The lower end of each compression spring 26 is seated on theupper surface of theV lower guide Vmemberr23, and the upper end of eachspring is seated on the lower surface of a retainer sleeve 27, suitablyfastened to the ladder uprightV as by screw 2,8. Mounted on each ladderupright above retainer sleeve 27 is-an abutment sleeve 29 secured to theupright ladder support is pivoted to the inner ladder support so Y nVmaximum degree of stability is attained.-

Y 4 Y moved downwardly to its anchored position, the free end of theouter ladder support will swing outwardlyr to its extended position.Links44 and 46 are selected so that when the inner ladder support,comprising ladder up-V rights 18 and 19, are in contact with the ground,the outerV ladder support, comprising legs 32 and 33, will alsosimultaneously contact the ground. Thus, when the ladder assembly 14-.isunfolded and in use, the ladder is independently sustained by reason ofVthe four-point support provided by the ladder legs and ladder uprights,Vso that a `Rubber tips 49 and 51 are carried by the bottom portions ofeach ladder leg and ladderA upright to insure-that the ground, andan'upper or riding position where abut- Y ment sleeve 29 strikes thelower surface of the upper guide member 23. The combined force of thetwo compression springs 26 encircling ladder uprights 18 and 19 issucient to lift the ladder assembly 14 to its riding posi-Y tion when noforce other than that exerted by the weight of the ladder is beingexerted downwardly Von the ladder f assembly. When anradditional forceis exerted downwardly on theY ladder assembly, compression springs 26will yield and the assembly will be'lowered to the ground. Thus,compression springs 2,6 form a bias means interthe ladder will not moveinadvertently when the ladder is in use and in its anchored position.

At times it is desirable-that ladder assembly 14 be kept in its loweredor anchored position regardless of whether the ladder is supporting theweight of a person. Therefore, it has been found advisabley to provide afastening means for selectivelyV lockingrthe ladder assembly in kitsanchored position. p v

Referring tothe drawings, a lever 52 Yis'mounted-between ladder uprights18 and 19 fixed to a tubular mem- Vber 56, tubular member 56 encirclinga shaft 57 secured posed between body 10 and the innerladder support1761 normally urging the latter to a raised or riding position.

VThe outer ladder support 17 includes a pair of ladder legs S27-and 33pivotally mounted to ladder uprights 18 and 19 Vat pivot connections 34and 36. To strengthen the upper end ofthe ladder assembly 14, a channelshaped bracket 37 is included ,in the assembly, legs 38 of the bracketbeing welded to the ladder uprightsv as at 39 and pivot connections 34and 36 extending through the legs of the bracket near theelbow portionthereof.

' Fixed between and connecting each ladder leg is a pair of horizontalstep elements 41. The horizontal step elements preferably are selectedso as to possess a Vsubstantial support area so that a person using .theladder may readily balance-himself. As Ycan best be seen in Fig. 3,these step elements 4are secured Vto the ladder legs by welding each endof the step element to a suitable couplingy sleeve 42, which in turn maybe fastened to each Y. ladder leg by suitable means suchv as screws 43.From Ythe foregoing, it will be apparent that ladderflegs32 andV 33,together with the horizontal-step elements 41, will pivot las a unitabout pivot connections 34 and 36.V

- vationthan the pivot connection-betweenY links 44 and 46 with ladderlegs 32 and 33, YsoY that when inner ladder ,support'16 is raised fromanchored position to riding position, links 44 and 46 will rotate in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the free end ofouter ladder support 17 will beV pulled inwardly toward inner thatwheninner ladder support 16 isfully raised, outer` .Y fladde'r support V17willY be completely retracted Ywith its lower end lyingV adjacent'innerladder support 16. .-Thus, means have been provided, comprising'links 44and 46,'wh'ereinthe free or unpivoted end of themouter 1lladdersupportrirs swungjpositivelyl-inwardly toward the innerladdersupportI innresponse to movementpl' theYV innerladder-,support upwardlytoa riding or free posiupright 18 is a latch member 58. Lever 52 can Ybepivoted from a release position, shown in Fig. 1, to a locking position,as shown in Fig. 2, wherein latch pins 53 abut the underside of shelf 7and arm 52 Vengages latch member 58. AV suitable coill spring, such asspring 59, with one of its ends fastened to tubular member 56 and theother of its ends fastened to ladder upright V19, is provided to urgelever 52 to the position shown in Fig. l.

From the foregoing, it willbe apparent that there has been provided astock transfer truck and ladder assembly having a number of desirablefeatures. Through the use 'of Va collapsible type stepladder, a ladderhas been included which affords maximum ease in ascending anddescending'but which takes up a amount of space when theladderisV not inuse. The ladder is car- 'ried at one end Vof the stock transfer truck,so thata "ment of the inner ladder support ofthe assembly to a ridingposition is accompanied automatically by movement of theouter laddersupport member ofthe assembly inwardly, so that theladder assembly is'ina collapsed state. By including a bias means, as lrepresentedfbycompression spring Y26, a means has been provided which f servesautomatically to collapse the ladder when the ladder is not in use. aYnovel fastening means for-locking the ladder in its lowerextendedposition when itis convenient to do so.

T upwardly along said *upright portion and slidably mountedl It isclaimed and desired to secure byfvLetters Patent:

V1.7A stock transfer truck comprising a body ,having annpright portionat one end thereof, wheel support Y for said gbody, an inner laddersupport member extending thereon* for -reciprocation between an anchorposition wherein .'themember contacts thev ground and; aY ridingVYladder s'upport16.I YThe pivot .connections are so placed positionwherein the member is raised clear-of the ground,

an outer Vladder support member including a ladder step' y elementpivotedv to said inner ladder vsupport memberY p at an upper externiityAthereof for movement of the free endY of sadrouter ladder Vsupportmember'toward and away from said inner. ladderV support member, andmeans interposed between vsaid body and outer ladder support memberpositively swinging said outerY ladder support j Ymember'Y toward, andaway from V,said inner ladderjsupport member in response to movement ofsaid inner ladder suption. Conversely, i when',V the inner laddersupportV Vis .75

,Portr member ftofsaid ridingV and anchor positions, respective1y. VY YY Y Still further.there has been provided Y 2. A stock transfer truckcomprising a body having an upright portion at one end thereof, wheelsupport for said body, an inner ladder support member extending upwardlyalong said upright portion and slidably mounted thereon forreciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member contacts theground and a riding position wherein the member is raised clear of theground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladderstep element and pivoted to said inner ladder sup port member at anupper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said outerladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder supportmember, means interposed between said body and outer ladder supportmember positively swinging said outer ladder support member toward andaway from said inner ladder support member in response to movement ofsaid inner ladder support member to said riding and anchored positions,respectively, and bias means between said body and inner ladder supportmember normally urging said inner ladder support member to said ridingposition.

3. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion atone end thereof, wheel support for said body, an inner ladder supportmember extending upwardly along said upright portion and slidablymounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein themember contacts the ground and a riding position wherein the member israised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including atleast one ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder supportmember at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end ofsaid outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner laddersupport member, and a link pivotally connected to said body and saidouter ladder support member at a point intermediate its ends operable toswing said outer ladder support member toward and away from said innerladder support member in response to movement of said inner laddersupport member to said riding and anchor positions, respectively.

4. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion atone end thereof, wheel support for said body, an inner ladder supportmember extending upwardly along said upright portion and slidablymounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein themember contacts the ground and a riding position wherein the member israised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including atleast one ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder supportmember at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end ofsaid outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner laddersupport member, a link pivotally connected to said body and said outerladder support member at a point intermediate its ends operable to swingsaid outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner laddersupport member in response to movement of said inner ladder supportmember to said riding and anchor positions, respectively, and bias meansbetween said body and inner ladder support member normally urging saidinner ladder support member to said riding position.

5. The stock transfer truck of claim 4 which further comprises fasteningmeans for selectively locking said inner ladder support member in saidanchor position.

6. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion atone end thereof, wheel support for said body, a pair of ladder uprightsextending upwardly along said upright portion and each slidably mountedthereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein theuprights both contact the ground and a riding position wherein theuprights are both raised clear of the ground, a ladder leg pivotallymounted to each ladder upright for movement of its free end toward andaway om said ladder upright, at least one horizontal step element fixedbetween and connecting the ladder legs,

said ladder uprights and ladder legs simultaneously engaging the groundwhen said uprights are moved to said anchor position so as to provide afour-point support for said step element, and means interposed betweensaid body and at least one of said ladder legs positively swinging saidladder legs toward and away from said ladder uprights in response tomovement of said ladder uprights to said riding and anchor positions,respectively.

7. A ladder assembly for a ground supported structure comprising aninner ladder support member extending upwardly along an upright portionof said ground supported structure and slidably mounted thereon forreciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member contacts theground and a riding position wherein the member is raised clear of theground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladderstep ele ment and pivoted to said inner ladder support member at anupper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said -outerladder support member toward and away vfrom said inner ladder supportmember, and means interposed between said ground supported structure andouter ladder support member positively swinging said outer laddersupport member toward and away from said inner ladder support member inresponse to movement of said inner ladder support member to said ridingand anchor positions, respectively.

8. A ladder assembly for a ground supported structure comprising aninner ladder support member' extending upwardly along an upright portionof said ground supported structure and slidably mounted thereon forreciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member is raisedclear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including at leastone ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder support memberat an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said outerladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder supportmember, means interposed between said ground supported structure andouter ladder support member positively swinging said outer laddersupport member toward and away from said inner ladder support member inresponse to movement of said inner ladder support member to said ridingand yanchor position, respectively, and bias means between said groundsupported structure and inner ladder support member normally urging saidinner ladder support member to said riding position.

9. A ladder assembly for a ground supported structure comprising a pairof ladder uprights extending upwardly along an upright portion of saidground supported structure each slidably mounted thereon forreciprocation between an anchor position wherein the uprights bothcontact the ground and a riding position wherein the uprights are bothraised clear of the ground, a ladder leg pivotally mounted to eachladder upright for movement of its free end toward and away from saidladder upright, at least one horizontal step element fixed between andconnecting the ladder legs, said ladder uprights and ladder legssimultaneously engaging the ground when said uprights are moved to saidanchor position so as to provide a four-point support for said stepelement, and means interposed between said ground supported structureand at least one of said ladder legs positively swinging said ladderlegs toward and away from said ladder uprights in response to movementof said ladder uprights to said riding and anchor positions,respectively.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,377,043 Samuelson May 29, 1 945 2,630,961 Burg Mar. 10, 1953 2,707,585Hoey May 3, 1955

